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Orangutan Rescued From Forest Fire Smoke
30 Aug
Summary
- An orangutan was found weak on a plantation due to thick smoke.
- The animal, named Sampurna, received oxygen and medical treatment.
- Wildlife rescuers are treating seven orangutans affected by fires.
On Sunday morning, August 30, 2026, a farmer in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, discovered an orangutan in distress on a palm-oil plantation near a wildfire site. The primate was weak and appeared to have fainted, attributed to severe smoke inhalation causing hypoxia. Named Sampurna after the village where it was found, the roughly 20-year-old orangutan received immediate veterinary attention, including oxygen and fluids, at the scene.
Wildlife foundation Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia provided treatment, noting the orangutan had breathing problems and had vomited, suspected to be an acute respiratory infection. Sampurna will be moved to a rehabilitation center for further care and eventual release back into the wild. This rescue is one of seven orangutans saved by the foundation due to the ongoing fires.
Indonesia has escalated efforts to contain haze from forest and land fires across six provinces in Borneo and Sumatra. These fires, which burned at least 202,010 hectares from January to July 2026, have caused respiratory illnesses and led to thousands of schools moving classes online. Experts emphasize the need for long-term planning to manage the consequences for public health, forests, and wildlife.
